Pronouns: Miss
Identifies as: "Two-spirit, which is a Native American term equivalent to transgender."
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Life's work:
"Art and music and health and fitness. Also, more importantly, to try to educate everyone, even Native Americans ... of the two-spirit person. I'm trying to step back in and say that we're still here. Some Native American circles have totally forgotten that due to assimilation."
Do you consider yourself an activist?
"It's kind of a double responsibility, just in being Native American and also in the two-spirit Native American. So that's where my main activities of being an activist come in, on those grounds."
When did you start questioning gender?
"Around age five. I got very angry with the so-called Christian God, and I was a believer. I was always told that God makes everything perfect, and he makes no mistakes. And when he makes people, he makes them perfect just the way they are. And I was like 'wait a minute, if that's what he is supposed to do, then why didn't he do that too when I was supposed to be a girl?' And I was ridiculed at that age for doing very girl things."
Do you have a coming out story?
I came out in 1995. In 1995, I told my family. I told my wife. I told my family, and my family rejected me. I was disowned, and I was torn apart by it. But one aunt took pity on me, and she gave me place to reside in where I am residing right now. Otherwise, I'd be on the street. So, I'm very grateful for her."
What is the best thing about being trans/gender-variant?
"It's so wonderful because it's a sense of freedom of not lying to yourself, being true to yourself."
How do you explain the way you feel about gender to others?
"I tell them that sex is between the legs, gender is between the ears and sexual orientation is between the sheets."
What do you think are the most important issues facing the trans/ gender-variant community?
"I think the education is there and the acceptance is somewhat there, but we need it to be more so."
To nominate a person for T in the life, email: Kate Sosin sosin@windycitytimes.com